Meaning of second banana | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
   colloquial, idiomatic
2. A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.
   colloquial, idiomatic

Examples

“He grew disenchanted with playing second banana and never getting credit for the laughter.”

“The plumber left his second banana behind, to finish installing my new sink.”

“When you want to be the boss, but you can't, it's not a lot of fun to be second banana.”

CEFR level